An Illuminating Trip to the City of Lights with Bookbag Tours
By: Amy DeBoer
Can words ever truly convey a life-changing experience? The 2022 trip to France was exactly that - life-changing. From start to finish, every moment enriched the senses and left me in awe. Before I left for France, one of the best pieces of advice I received was to keep a journal to document anything and everything. While words may never truly capture this incredible trip, I hope these glimpses into my travel journal inspire you to explore this great, big, beautiful world with Bookbag Tours, perhaps even France!
Part Un (1): The first part of our trip took place in the beautiful city of Poitiers. We had the unique opportunity to spend three days in French schools collaborating with administrators, teachers, and students. It was an amazing experience, enriched by the sharing of languages, cultures, educational practices, and ideas.
Part Deux (2): After Poitiers, we spent a quick overnight in the city of Bordeaux. The architecture, food, and wine were exquisite. A wine tasting in the city of wine is a must, and the pesto linguine at the InterContinental Hotel was one of my favorite meals of the trip!
Part Trois (3): We arrived in Paris for a day of shopping and exploring, complete with an incredible dinner cruise on the Seine River!
Part Quatre (4): A big day of Paris sightseeing with tours of the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, and Arc de Triomphe. The views from the top of the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe were breathtaking!
Part Cinq (5): We concluded our trip experiencing the magic and beauty of the Palace of Versailles and the sparkling Eiffel Tower at night. A few of us also took a spontaneous trip to Disneyland Paris on our last day!
This incredible trip challenged me and changed me in the best ways. A place I had only ever dreamt about became real and surreal. The people, culture, scenery, landmarks, and food were très magnifique! My eyes have been opened, my mind has been nourished, and my heart is overflowing. My classroom and students have benefitted from the ideas and experiences I took away from this trip. For that, I am extremely grateful. Merci, France and Bookbag Tours, for refreshing my soul. Simply put, je t’aime.
